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Niantic, Illinois
Welcome sign
Welcome sign
Location in Macon County, Illinois
Location in Macon County, Illinois
Niantic, Illinois is located in the United States
Niantic, Illinois
Niantic, Illinois
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Illinois
County Macon
Township Niantic
Area
 • Total 1.04 sq mi (2.69 km2)
 • Land 1.04 sq mi (2.69 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
601 ft (183 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 612
 • Density 589.03/sq mi (227.38/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
62551
Area code(s) 217
FIPS code 17-52961

Niantic is a small village located in Macon County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 612 people lived there. It's part of the larger Decatur area.

History

The Early Days of Niantic

Niantic Township was one of the first areas settled in Macon County. In 1825, a man named Joseph Strickling, who was from Ohio, became the first permanent settler in what is now Niantic Township. He built the very first log cabin there.

For many years, from 1825 to 1840, not many people settled permanently in the area. The population changed a lot as settlers often set up temporary homes while they were traveling further west. The first schoolhouse, also a log cabin, was built in 1847.

In 1838, a significant historical event known as the Potawatomi Death Trail passed through Niantic.

Geography

Where is Niantic Located?

Niantic is found in the western part of Macon County. It is about 12 miles (19 km) west of Decatur, which is the main city of the county. It's also about 30 miles (48 km) east-northeast of Springfield, the capital city of Illinois.

The village covers a total area of about 1.04 square miles (2.69 square kilometers), and all of it is land. Water from the village flows westward into small streams that eventually join the Sangamon River.

Demographics

How Many People Live in Niantic?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 321
1890 639 99.1%
1900 654 2.3%
1910 685 4.7%
1920 613 −10.5%
1930 589 −3.9%
1940 625 6.1%
1950 625 0.0%
1960 629 0.6%
1970 705 12.1%
1980 761 7.9%
1990 647 −15.0%
2000 738 14.1%
2010 707 −4.2%
2020 612 −13.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

According to the census from 2000, there were 738 people living in Niantic. These people lived in 269 households, and 200 of those were families. The population density was about 686.7 people per square mile (265.1 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people living in the village were White (99.59%). A small number were Native American or from two or more races. About 0.68% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Education

Schools in Niantic

Niantic is home to Sangamon Valley High School. This school is part of the Sangamon Valley C.U.S.D. #9 school district.

Notable people

Famous People from Niantic

Some well-known people have connections to Niantic:

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Niantic (Illinois) para niños

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